Web 2002   Web Accessibility Opening Statement

The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights enforces two laws that prohibit discrimination based on disability. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The U.S. Department of Education gives grants of financial assistance to schools and colleges. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act provides that a public entity shall take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with participants with disabilities are as effective as communications with others.

-from the Web pages for the United States Department of Education.

The Office of Civil Rights goes on to say that the basis of effectiveness is timeliness of delivery, accuracy of translation, and provision in a manner appropriate to the message and abilities of the individual. Accessible Web Design isn't a goal, it's a path. In the hopes that the Penn State Web will take that path and avoid harmful alternatives, I stressed two points at Web 2002:

• Penn State Webmasters need to continue aggressively seeking information.

Webmasters at Penn State are communicators working in positions that didn't exist eight years ago. They can be characterized as dedicated seekers of the information they need to both improve their own performance and make the Web work for Penn Staters.

To find out what makes a Web page render the way it does, or what HTML trick will guarantee that the information is delivered clearly and usably, most Webmasters check the Web. WebMonkey, Builder.com, developerWorks, or WDVL all provide helpful information. If shown the need for additional design considerations on pages accessed by students who use screen reading technology, students with learning disabilities, and students with motor impairment, among others, Webmasters will begin seeking the information they need to make Penn State Web pages universally accessible.

• By implementing and enforcing an institution wide set of standards for Web accessibility, Penn State's Web Task Force can make the Penn State Web easier to use while they help define the webmaster's goals and establish a model of accessibility for our virtual classrooms.

When a new classroom is built, there's more than just an awareness of the need for accessible entrances, elevators, and fixtures; there's a set of standards established by Federal law that architects adhere to as they create a design. As we continue to build virtual classrooms on the Web, more than just awareness of accessible Web design is needed by faculty and staff creating the designs.

Web development that takes place without a well defined requirement of accessibility may run several risks. The work may need to be re-done later, development may be slowed as Webmasters struggle with unanswered questions, and the outcome may lead to undelivered information, frustration, and anger. It may also mean that software and hardware improvements that could improve accessibility aren't given a priority.